Call it a draw between Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen in Sunday’s AFC divisional game that headlined the second round of the Super Bowl tournament.
Both Mahomes and Allen made a bunch of successful plays in cold, windy Orchard Park, N.Y.
Neither star turned the ball over.
So why were the Chiefs of Mahomes — who’s already an all-time great — able to carve out a 27-24 victory that will send Kansas City to its sixth AFC Championship Game in as many seasons with Mahomes as its starter?
What enabled coach Andy Reid’s program to eliminate Reid’s former longtime assistant Sean McDermott’s club for the third postseason in the past four?
And why will the Chiefs face the top-seeded Baltimore Ravens – favored by 2.5 points – in a bid to reach their fourth Super Bowl in five years?
Several reasons.
But be sure to start with coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s defense.
“I’m so proud of what those guys did in the second half,” Reid said.
The unit held the explosive Bills offense to seven points in the second half despite losing safety Mike Edwards (concussion) and linebacker Willie Gay (neck) to first-half injuries.
Spagnuolo figured out how to curtail the second-half rushes of the explosive Allen, whose two rushing touchdowns had led Buffalo to a 17-13 halftime lead.
Chiefs defenders allowed no gains of 20-plus yards, all told. They overcame a fourth-quarter fumble by receiver Mecole Hardman that went for a touchback when it appeared the Chiefs would add to their 27-24 lead. All-Pro lineman Chris Jones shoved a Bills blocker into Allen, causing an incompletion on a seam that otherwise could’ve gone for a go-ahead TD in the fourth quarter. Linebacker Nick Bolton made 13 tackles and ex-Chargers linebacker Drue Tranquill had a key tackle for loss and stopped a fake-punt try, both in the second half.
Crucial as well were the Chiefs’ blockers, led by center Creed Humphrey and assisted by formations with two or three tight ends. The front led a ground attack that went for 146 yards on 6.1 per carry. A stable pocket was the norm for Mahomes, who never was sacked, took only two hits and seldom had to pull off one of his difficult escapes.
Reminding the Bills he sat out their Week 14 victory at Kansas City that gave Buffalo the homefield advantage Sunday, the relentless Pacheco pounded out 97 rushing yards (6.5 per carry) and a touchdown. His two rushes for a first down enabled Mahomes to kneel out the victory.
Mahomes and the rest of the offense did their part, for sure.
Never looking out of sorts, Mahomes directed a unit that had eight gains of 20 yards or more. In his best showing of the 19-game journey, Marquez Valdes-Scantling grabbed long es for gains of 30 and 32 yards to set up a pair of scores.
Travis Kelce caught two touchdown es.
Matt Nagy’s deep game plan, said Reid, ensured the play menu remained well-stocked through four quarters.
This was Buffalo’s first chance to play the Reid-Mahomes Chiefs at home in the playoffs.
But despite scoring 24 points off their first five drives, the Bills made too many unforced errors to win as a 2.5-point favorite.
Such as top receiver Stefon Diggs and No. 4 receiver Trent Sherfield dropping a pair of long es from Allen. And kicker Tyler Bass missing wide right — a sight that makes all Bills fans cringe — from 44 yards with 1:47 to play and the Chiefs ahead, 27-24.
The NFL came away with roses, once again.
Pop star Taylor Swift’s presence in a stadium suite expanded the league’s exposure to a larger demographic. Creating a video image that went viral, Jason Kelce one-upped Swift by baring his torso to the crowd while holding a beer can after the All-Pro center saw one of his brother’s TD catches.
The AFC title game figures to be more interesting with the Chiefs in it.
Injuries had stripped out several Bills defenders. Healthier, the Chiefs will stand a better chance of fully challenging a Ravens club that won its playoff opener by 24 points and has clobbered several playoff teams in the past few months. And any big game with Mahomes in it and Reid calling plays is a game well worth watching.
